In a disclosure, IFC said it has been invited to provide up to Rmb240 million ($38 million) in long-term senior loan to support Shandong’s projects. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rmb387 million.

IFC said, its investment in Shandong Yingcai University is expected to increase access to quality tertiary education in China, improve students’ employability and competitiveness through industry-linked vocational education, and demonstrate economic returns on education through providing employment-linked education services.

Founded in 1998 by Professor Wen Yang and husband Professor Jiting Xia, Shandong Yingcai has grown to become the largest private university in China, based in Jinan, Shandong Province.

Accredited by the Ministry of Education of China, Shandong Yingcai is a private comprehensive four-year university granting bachelor degrees, associate degrees, and diplomas to students in 48 different programs.

It has 10 academic colleges specializing in mechanics and automation, engineering, computer science & information technology, commerce and trade, business management, preschool education, foreign languages, arts, law, and nursing, with a student body of more than 20,000.

The university has over 800 faculty and staff working in this 100-acre school. Over 90 per cent of its graduates find a job within six months of graduation, according to information posted on its website.

If the investment pushes through, the IFC will provide the university with long-term debt financing that would match the cash flow generation profile of the project.

“Such long-term financing is not readily available for education institutions in China,” the IFC disclosed.

Aside from the investment, the IFC will also share international best practices in different areas of Yingcai’s operations, as well as connect Yingcai with IFC’s global network of education clients.

It will also share environmental and social best practices with Yingcai, especially around the life and fire safety aspects.